Rasmuson Foundation Announces 2010 Sabbatical Award Recipients

Published: January 4, 2010

Anchorage – Six Alaska nonprofit leaders have been selected for the 2010 Rasmuson Sabbatical Program, and they are:

Margaret (Peg) Coleman (Homer) is the executive director of South Peninsula Haven House, which provides services to victims of family violence, sexual assault and child maltreatment. She has served in this position for five years.

Sven Haakanson, Jr. (Kodiak) has served as the executive director of the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository for nine years. The Museum preserves and shares the heritage of the Alutiiq people through the collection of materials, research, and the development of exhibits and educational programs.

Angela Liston (Anchorage)is the executive director ofAFACT(Anchorage Faith and Action-Congregations Together), which organizes and mobilizes faith communities to address quality of life issues. She has been in this position for five years.

Jaclyn Sallee (Anchorage) is the president and CEO of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC), a Native media center that produces national public radio programming and operates the country’s first urban Native radio station. Jaclyn has led KBC for 12 years.

Michelle Waneka (Homer) has served as the executive director of Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic for the past 10 years. The Clinic provides reproductive health care and education on a sliding scale basis.

The Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Program is designed to provide time away from the job for nonprofit and tribal leaders to engage in activities for personal renewal or professional growth.

“Chief executives of nonprofit organizations work long hours helping others and providing services in their communities,” said Rasmuson President and CEO Diane Kaplan.

“They often lead organizations that provide critical resources for those in need or experiencing crisis. As a result, they experience emotional and physical effects from their jobs. Rasmuson Foundation believes that healthy nonprofit leaders are crucial to Alaska, and the Sabbatical Program offers an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, to step back to gain new perspective on their organization, and to renew themselves,” she said.

While each of the recipients will pursue their own interests during their sabbatical, all cited a need to regain work/life balance, spend more time with loved ones, and reconnect with activities that bring joy and personal growth into their lives.

The next postmark deadline to apply for a Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical is October 1, 2010. Details about the Sabbatical Program, guidelines for preparing a proposal and application materials are available online at www.rasmuson.org or by calling (907) 297-2700. The toll free number within Alaska is 1-877-366-2700.

About the Foundation

The Rasmuson Foundation was created in May 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband E.A. Rasmuson. Through grantmaking and initiatives, the Foundation is a catalyst to promote a better life for all Alaskans.